Shangri La
2 days ago
Big leaf maples are starting to acknowledge fall
3 this month · 43 reports
Whittaker Wilderness Peak
Issaquah Alps
updated 1 month ago
The trails for Whittaker Wilderness Peak are generally in good condition, being dry and dusty as of August 25. There are a few blow-downs that have not yet been cleared, including one in front of Doughty Falls, but these pose few problems. The road access is suitable for all vehicles, and parking at the Whitaker trailhead was not an issue, with few cars present in late August. Bugs were not a significant concern in the reports from this summer.
Generated from 36 trip reports. Trails change faster than reports do, so check anything you’d turn around for.
What hikers ask about Whittaker Wilderness Peak
Generated from the most recent trip reports, newest 1 month ago. Check anything you’d turn around for.
No trip reports on this trail in 1 month, so everything below is at least that old.
Based on reports from late August, parking at the Whitaker trailhead was not crowded. On August 25, there was only one car at the trailhead when a hiker arrived early and eight when they left mid-day. This suggests ample parking is generally available.
As of August 25, the only running water noted was a tiny trickle at the Whitaker Wilderness bridge. Other potential water sources like Doughty Trickle were not flowing.
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Trail notes generated from recent reports. Conditions change fast.
Sources
Older1 month ago
Issaquah Alps > Cougar Mountain
Today's #hikeathon 2026 outing was intended to be Lower Tuscohatchie Lake (14 miles/4400') with 9 members of the Seattle Mountaineers CHS-2 cohort, but AQI was abysmal and after 2 minutes of talking w...
Older1 month ago
Issaquah Alps > Cougar Mountain
We started early in the morning and took the Gombu cut off to the top. We saved the longer trail for the downside part of the hike. Both trails were forested and had plenty of large boulders covered ...
Older1 month ago
Issaquah Alps > Cougar Mountain
Dry and dusty trail - we took the loop trail up to the summit and back. Steep uphill and downhill with loose gravel on the trail. A beautiful and quiet forest walk with very few other hikers. Recomme...
Older1 month ago
Issaquah Alps > Cougar Mountain
The peak doesn’t have any wide open views but it is a nice space for inner peace and meditation. Pretty cool little wood bridges over the marshy parts and the rivers. Solid short day hike.
Older2 months ago
Issaquah Alps > Cougar Mountain
A warning to my fellow hikers: hiking at dusk, an aggressive owl followed me and dove at me multiple times on this trail. I was glad to have my trekking poles to wave above my head.
Issaquah Alps > Cougar Mountain
A cool, damp Junuary day up on Cougar Mountain.Not a lot of people on the trail today.Maybe everyone is still recovering from the World Cup.A lot of flowers are still blooming.Saw tiger lilies, which ...
Issaquah Alps > Cougar Mountain
This trail is a gem if you want some vigorous climb through lush forest, decorated with interesting erratic boulders. I did Whittaker Wilderness Peak as an out-and-back for training reasons, but the W...
Older4 months ago
Issaquah Alps > Cougar Mountain
I did the loop as described by WTA: up the Gombu Cliffs trail and down via the Whittaker trail. That puts the steepest part of the climb at the beginning. If I were doing it strictly for scenery, I mi...
Older5 months ago
Issaquah Alps > Cougar Mountain
Walked the Cougar Mt trails out to the top of Wilderness Peak as kind of a defacto memorial for Jim Whittaker who passed this last week since he is the namesake for the Wilderness Peak trail. Parking...
Issaquah Alps > Cougar Mountain
This trail never disappoints. Morning fog left the trail a tad muddy in places but we encountered evidence of removed trees (from blow downs) and no diversions on our loop including Gombu-Whittaker Pe...